To want to burn down the Tax Credits buliding in Birmingham and all those in it?

[carocaro]

The tossers at Tax Credits have just totally denied that I had ever made any phone calls to the with my new bank account details.

They have paid my £190 into an old bank account which has been closed and which we can't get back because the account was in arrears and any money that goes into account is kept and they won't give it back.

So I do not have any money to pay bills or buy food. And DH's JSA cheque has not turned up either.

Oh and I won't qualify for an emergency payment as they have no record of me every telling them of the new bank details which I have done twice by telephone. I even have some forms that they requested on my behalf after one of those phone calls.

I can write to them apparently to complain.

Exactly food and living is more important.

seriously op talk to your local mp tomorrow

Well, they closed the account, with an agreed programme of repayment to be reviewed on a 3 monthly basis.

Quite normal practice, when like us, people have experienced financial trouble due to redundancy/payment of salary. Like all these things until you are actually in the shit you are in you don't know how these things work.

I called the bank in question and they released the CTC and CB and I went to the bank to pick it up. So thanks to the Nat West and please note they don't actually want to see you totally destitute.

I also wrote a huge letter of complaint to the CTC office with copies of my phone bill showing all the calls I had made to them.

What astonishes me about the nasty posts is the attitutde that I am not worthy of any help at all. It's seems to be the case "Off with my head and in the gutter at the first sign of trouble and stay there."

Put yourself in my shoes for one moment, only one of us was working, then they got fucked over by redundancy and no salarly payment, we survived for three months (on savings) until benefits were needed. Lets face it the majority of this board are 3-4 months away from being in the shit with no household income for 3-4 months if not more; what would you do, how would you survive and pay bills? The CTC, JSA and CB just cover household bills, literally, with a tiny amount left over for food, nothing for petrol, anything for the children eg: clothes, shoes, school trips, £ to go swimming NOTHING.

Until you are in it, you have ZERO idea of how it affects you.

And our local MP is George Osborn so I doubt he'd have any sympathy!!!!

GLad you got the money back - hurrah for the bank - not often you can say that!
My dh lost his job once without pay, or redundancy or holiday pay or notice - was utterly awful and I do sympathise very much with your situation. Hope things get better soon. There is a government scheme for companies that go insolvent owing employees wages - have you heard about it?[[http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Pay/DG_178525 here] they don't pay the full amount and they aren't hugely quick but it's worth a look.

Sorry here

carocaro Glad you got it sorted, it seems to be the same with all benefit type departments, their main stance is head in sand. Beats having to actually do their job obviously.

Have had more arguments than I care to count about them pretending phone calls, letters and/or in person meetings didn't happen.

Not sure why so many people have leapt on you tbh, especially over the bank thing.

Whenever I have to talk to a government department I always request a reference number.

Anyelse I have to talk to on the phone I request their full name

Anyone else .

Not much help now but good for future reference

You owe the bank the money so it's tough shit really

Shove off hairy that sort of crap talk ain't helpful.

Op so glad you got it sorted and merry xmas

Thanks all really helpfull and supportive posts, except of course HFL - hope if you are ever in this situation, when your gas is cut off in minus 10 and you have no bread or milk and no £ to buy it you can look your kids in the eye and tell them 'tough shit' you must have a heart made of stone.

having lived hand to mouth before, its terrible when something happens and the money just osnt there.
And yes, our bank froze/closed our account and demanded the overdraft back because as far us they were concerned there wasnt enough money going in every mouth so it does happen.
Im glad Natwest were kind enough to help and shame on those unhelpful MNetters, clearly have never had to deal with this before or if they did have fogotten quickly.

No, YANBU!!

For some reason they have decided to totally mess up my "award" and since they deleted and resubmitted my work details have decided that I now should get £100 a week less!

They are jokers. Sorry that you have no cash, especially at this time of year and in this weather.

Without wanting to make you out to be a charity case, if you have a PayPal account I and I am sure others will chip in what we can to help you get some stuff? Sorry can't think of anything else

Oh and HFL, the banks owe ME some fucking money and probably most other people on here, when will we see that again? Never, that's fucking when.

You first priority at Christmas is not to owe the banks any money. No respectable person would get overdrawn or use credit cards or store cards at Christmas.

Shut up standup

glad you got it sorted OP. hope you have a nice xmas x

also am AMAZED natwest helped you out. i used to work for them and they are cunts not very helpful.

I was taking the piss tiredmum. I bet all those who are judging her have been borrowed money in some form this christmas and if the shit hit the fan and they needed benefits would have some debts to pay .

YANBU the banks are fuckers,tax credits are fuckers and you need to eat.There are also too many mumsnetters with their heads wedged so far up their own arses they can taste their own shit. Just thought i'd better out it in plainer Anglo-Saxon.

Well apologies to you then standup.

I was just baffled bout the credit and store card comment, but i do understand some people do silly things and put themselves into awkward positions, this wasnt one of those times though. I really felt for the op cos its impossible to live in this weather with no gas.

Really no one deserves that, its bloody freezing out there

Waiting to pounce on the 6th

I was fucked over by tax credits too

Tax credits people are sods, and i am surprised they get away with half the stuff they do. But they dont care